Lagos airport nightlife reveals drama and challenges for travellers
Three reporters, including Dare and the author, spent a night at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 2, Lagos, witnessing both the routine and the unexpected. The night featured the inaugural direct flight of Neos Airline to Nigeria, delays, and a dramatic scene involving a passenger who missed her flight. The experience highlighted persistent issues at the airport, such as touting, extortion, and efforts by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to address them. Despite interventions and new initiatives, challenges for travellers remain widespread.
TLDR
- On the night of Thursday, 10 October 2024, aviation reporters covered Neos Airline’s inaugural direct flight to Nigeria at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 2, Lagos.
- The flight, initially scheduled for 9:30 pm, was delayed and arrived around 11:30 pm.
- A dramatic incident unfolded when a woman missed her Air Maroc flight and blamed spiritual sabotage, drawing attention from staff and security officers.
- Passengers at the airport often face military checkpoints, touts, and extortion by Customs and security officials, with some officers demanding payments for personal items.
- Despite FAAN's introduction of initiatives like “Operation Air Clean” and plans for magistrate courts to tackle corruption, touting and extortion persist at the airport.
